The process to freeze dry cannabis has been around for longer than most people realize. Before the current canna freeze dryer was invented, The Incas have been performing a natural freeze-drying method involving potatoes since the 13th century. More modern freeze drying began as early as 1890 and further improved in 1909.
Freeze drying, also called lyophilization, is a process that involves freezing the product, lowering the pressure by vacuum and then removing the ice by a process called sublimation. This leaves behind an excellent canna freeze product closely mimicking the original. Freeze dry weed!
Why Freeze Dry Weed?
Curing cannabis normally takes a very long time to complete. In fact, the curing process could take anywhere from three or four weeks to three or four months depending on your method. Freeze drying cannabis at home allows you to go from harvest to completely cured within a matter of just a few days, not months.
The final product can even be superior to that of traditionally cured cannabis. Freeze dried bud looks decidedly more alive than flower that was air dried. In fact, it looks almost exactly like it did when it was harvested. This retention of its beautiful, vibrant colors gives it excellent bag appeal. Freeze drying also preserves all the plant’s oils and terpenes that give your bud that delicious taste and aroma.
The freeze-drying process has another added benefit: the process is so fast and controlled, it almost completely eliminates the growth of mold or mildew. This is essential if you are immune deficient or plan to store your dried bud for long periods of time.
How does a canna freeze dryer work?
The first step in freeze drying your cannabis at home with a canna freeze dryer is to, well, freeze the stuff. Unfortunately, this cannot be done with your normal freezer; it has to be done super-cold and super-fast. This eliminates the possibility of having large ice chunks develop from the water content of your flower. Once frozen solid, we move on to the next stage: Drying
The drying phase involves the canna freeze dryer reducing the pressure by means of a vacuum and gently applying just enough heat until the trapped ice sublimes, or turns directly into its gaseous form. This vapor is attracted to a cold condenser that turns the vapor back into ice. Once about 95% of the water has been removed, its time for the next step: The Final Dry
The final dry is pretty simple. The buds are heated back to room temperature which releases any residual water. Once the final dry is complete, the final product contains less than 5% water. When properly stored, this now freeze-dried cannabis can last for years, even decades.
How can I freeze dry cannabis at home?
Until recently, freeze drying cannabis has been exclusively available only to large growers as the machines typically used can cost upwards of $200,000. It’s a worthwhile investment when you are growing thousands of pounds of weed a year, but a little out of reach for the rest of us.
Harvest Right is a manufacturer of freeze dryers for the rest of us. They have home freeze dryers that won’t break the bank but still are perfectly capable of getting the job done. The small freeze dryer for cannabis they offer is capable of processing 4-7 lbs. of product, plenty of room for the average home grower. This averages out to over 800lbs a year!
If you are not quite a commercial grower, but still produce quite a bit of weed, there are larger sizes available. The large home freeze dryer for cannabis is capable of freeze drying a whopping 16lbs per batch, a pace that can easily produce 2500lbs of freeze-dried cannabis per year.
These units run on standard household current, so no need to upgrade your electrical system (although you do need a dedicated 20 Amp circuit. With the optional oil free pump, your maintenance is reduced to wiping down the inside occasionally.
The Harvest Right Freeze Dryers are Made in the USA in Salt Lake City, Utah and come with a 3-year warranty. This device should have you freeze drying your cannabis at home for many years to come!
In Conclusion
Freeze drying your cannabis is the fastest way to cure your valuable crop. Besides speed, the quality of your final product is literally night and day better than any hang dry you will ever do. Until now, this ability was limited to those who had the huge amount of capital required to buy a commercial dryer.
The Harvest Right Freeze Dryers canna freeze dryer are the most economical way for the average person to get into the freeze-drying game. Not only can you freeze dry your cannabis at home, you can use it to freeze dry all types of food, from veggies to meats to making your own pet food. The possibilities are virtually endless.
If you want to have the absolute best cannabis that totally shows off your mad growing skills, freeze drying is the only way to go. Check out Harvest Right and get started freeze drying your cannabis today!
